ASSET RECOVERY INTER-AGENCY NETWORK FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA (ARINSA)

The Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Southern Africa (ARINSA) is an informal multi-agency network for participating countries. This platform enables participating members to exchange information, model legislation and country laws in asset forfeiture, confiscation and money laundering.

 With the assistance of UNODC, ARINSA was established in March 2009 when a group of practitioners in asset recovery from Southern Africa held a meeting in Pretoria, South Africa.  It was agreed that a network based on the Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN) model in Europe, should be established for Southern Africa. Now, ARINSA joins practitioners from Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Why ARINSA?

Information sharing and dissemination in asset forfeiture cases has always been known to be problematic due to its confidential nature. Exchanging information through diplomatic channels is a lengthy process and often leads to assets disappearing or being dissipated before law enforcement can take action to seize, freeze or confiscate them. Informal networks such as ARINSA have been found to be effective and efficient in tackling this problem.

How Does ARINSA Work?

Every ARINSA member be it an investigator or a prosecutor serves as a contact point for sharing information with their counterparts to deprive criminals of the proceeds of crime.

UNODC, together with the Asset Forfeiture Unit at the National Prosecuting Authority in South Africa, provides the Secretariat for ARINSA.

Who Does ARINSA Work With?

ARINSA has direct contact with asset recovery networks in other parts of the world such as:

  • Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN) in Europe
  • Rede de Recuperacion de Activos de Grupo de Accion Financiera de Sudamerica (GAFISUD) (RRAG) in South and Central America, 
  • Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network-East Africa (ARIN-EA) in East Africa,
  • Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network-West Africa (ARIN-WA) in West Africa.
  • Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP) in Asia Pacific

 

This international "network of networks" means that the proceeds of crime can be traced informally to all corners of the earth.

What Has ARINSA Achieved?

UNODC, using the ARINSA network, has provided specialist training for over 2,000 Judges, magistrates, prosecutors, investigators, law enforcement agents, revenue authorities and other government officials in asset forfeiture, money laundering and proceeds of crime. Countries in the region have benefited from mentors that have imparted "hands-on" expertise and assisted in legislative drafting.

Since the inception of ARINSA a number of assets have been tracked, frozen and confiscated. The result has been a greater capacity of member countries' ability to trace and freeze the proceeds of crime.

The ARINSA Website

The ARINSA website, ( http://new.arinsa.org), was launched in July 2015 at the ARINSA Annual General Meeting held in Pretoria, South Africa. The website provides a platform for information dissemination and exchange for both members and non-members. Latest news updates in the region and across the world on money laundering-related issues are continuously broadcast on the website. The Member login area provides discussion forums such as ARINSA Community Platform and the Wildlife and Forestry Crime Platform where members can share experiences on money laundering and the proceeds of crime. The website enables countries to share cases and model legislation. The photo gallery, and a messaging platform, also aid in information exchange.

An e-learning programme is being developed to provide distance learning for the benefit of members and will be launched in 2016.    

The website is actively being used and has received over 70,000 hits, and connects over 450 members since its launch in July 2015.